Monday, May 28, 2018

Winters in Boston can be brutal, but you really live for the summers here! With its delicious menu, fun drinks, and summer patio that's perfect for people watching, Stephanie's is one of the top summer brunch spots on Newbury Street! We visited for brunch to kick off the summer, and it did not disappoint! Read on to see what we got.

Brunch at Stephanie's on Newbury Street

Eggs benny is one of my brunch go-to's! You can't go wrong with poached eggs, creamy hollandaise sauce, ham and spongy egg muffins. Mine came with a hearty side of potatoes and a healthy leafy salad.

I'm a big fan of Moscow Mules, so I went with their twist - the Texas Mule! This pretty pink concoction was made with watermelon infused vodka, ginger beer and fresh lime. So refreshing and perfect for summer!

Of course we just had to try the incredible fried french toast with mascarpone on the inside, as well as their monkey bread - which kind of tastes like a cinnamon roll!

The cobb and caesar salads were both scrumptious, with perfectly cooked chicken and just the right amount of dressing.

I wasn't kidding about the people watching! This hilarious guy was dressed as a Stormtrooper and just drove around blasting the Star Wars theme song. Never a dull moment on Newbury Street! Stephanie's is the quintessential summer brunch spot in Boston, so it's a must-try for sure!

If you liked this post, be sure to check out my review of brunch at Joe's on Newbury.

Friday, May 25, 2018

Say what you will about Forever 21, but yesterday I got FOUR super cute dresses PLUS a skort from them for under $100, just in time for MDW, upcoming trips, and summer fun! I also scored a couple pieces from H&M, and a wicker bag from Amazon which are also featured in this post. Scroll to see what I got and let me know what you think!

Ok how adorable is this windowpane skort! It reminds me of something Cher from Clueless would wear, and its neutral gray shade will match with any color top or shoes! This powder blue top is really comfy too - and on sale for $7.99, including a bunch of other colors!

Remember that whimsical feeling that came so easily as a child? That feeling you got during the fireworks show at Disneyland, on family vacations and the last day of school before summer? It's one of my favorite moments, and while they are certainly more rare in adulthood, it's all in your mindset!

These days I feel that excitement most while traveling or working on an exciting blog project. When I stumbled across these Gingerbread Houses (or Gingerbread Cottages as some call them) in Oak Bluffs on Martha's Vineyard, I definitely felt that fantastical feeling! They were built in the 1800's, look like real-life doll houses, and come in every vibrant color you can think of! Some even have their own names.

Gingerbread Houses on Martha's Vineyard

Today there are 318 of the original 500 Gingerbread Houses. Can you believe there are that many?? I need to go back in the summer and find even more of them! They even have a Gingerbread Cottage Museum that shows how the cottages would have been furnished in the 1800's.

Apparently they started as tents for a temporary Methodist camp, but as the camp became more permanent so did the houses. To this day, many of them still retain the Victorian, Carpenter Gothic style that resemble tents!

It's hard to see, but this one is called Summer Love! It reminds me of where Princess Peach would summer, for all my fellow video game nerds out there!

Whale hello there! I love the cute names that came with some of the gingerbread houses.

If you're going to Martha's Vineyard, strolling through the Gingerbread Houses is an absolute must! If you liked this post, be sure to check out our stay at the Summercamp Hotel (pictured above), and see my other travel guides here!

Monday, May 21, 2018

As a Boston-based blogger, Newbury Street is top of my list for everything from shopping to dining! In fact, when I first moved here from California one of the things I loved most was all of the brick buildings and brownstones that lined this street. After all, we can't have these in San Francisco due to the earthquakes! I just love the feel of the modern stores and dining establishments nestled among (and often inside!) buildings which are hundreds of years old.

In fact, when my dad came to visit in January, Newbury Street was one of the first places I took him. Strolling down Newbury Street is a must for everyone from locals to tourists, and Joe's American Grill is a neighborhood staple of over 30 years.

Like so much of Boston, Joe's prides itself on American classics. I'm super impressed by the fact that every one of it's dishes is made by scratch in house, and can be tailored to any dietary restriction. I was gluten-free for over a year, so I can appreciate the fact that they can cater to gluten-free or vegetarian diets.

For a Saturday brunch, we got a refreshing mimosa and bloody Mary to go with the lobster frittata and crab cake benedict. Everything was seriously delicious and we were actually OBSESSED with the potato wedges! They were seasoned perfectly and the garlic reminded me of being at a ballgame in the best way!

From the friendly service, to the scrumptious dishes and neighborhood feel, I definitely recommend Joe's American Grill on Newbury Street to refuel while shopping! Plus, they even have live music and tall windows which they open up on warm summer days. You can't go wrong!

Saturday, May 19, 2018

A little bit of summer is what the whole year is all about. If you follow me on Instagram (@chowdownusa) then you know that last weekend I explored the beautiful Martha’s Vineyard with travel blogger babe Caroline from @sweetcarolinaj! We stayed at the breathtaking Oak Bluffs Summercamp Hotel, and though it was a rainy weekend we made the most of it by exploring the vibrant “Gingerbread Houses,” seaside docks and Circuit Ave shopping and restaurants nearby!

Even the name Summercamp evokes nostalgic feelings of roasting s'mores by the campfire, enjoying the sea and generally having fun in the sun! This Lark Hotel has the cutest interior design - scroll through to see for yourself!

The rooms are adorable and had the cutest interior decor, from the wall fixtures to the carpet and throw pillows. They even have an executive suite with a bed that hangs on ropes, nautical style! I loved the color scheme in our room - so summery with yellow and green hues!

The hotel staff were so sweet and brought up a complimentary gift bag - such great service. We definitely dove into the candy before dinner though, whoops!

I mean, does a lobby get any cuter than this? They have a little gift shop and "canteen," where you can bring in outside food and drinks, read the morning paper, play board games, and plan what you'll do next on the island!

Don't tempt me with a cute swinging chair, I'll sit in these things all day every day! Love the ocean views outside.

Their front patio has a great view of the ocean and the comfiest patio furniture for your morning coffee (or hot chocolate)!

This sand bar was closed until summer, but can't wait to go back during peak season! I love a good pun!

Black Dog is the quintessential Martha's Vineyard shop. They have the cutest hats and hoodies, and I got myself a powder blue sweatshirt!

Mocha Mott's is a super cute cafe, complete with coffee, tea, hot cocoa, sandwiches and salads. The lady behind the counter was so sweet and even complimented my dress - I instantly felt right at home.

The Ritz Cafe is actually a bar and was super packed with live music on Saturday night!

Our transport between Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard. It even carries tons of cars in addition to the passengers! Mind blown.